He who binds himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity's sunrise
William Blake
November 28th, 1757- August 12,1827
Blake was unrecognized during his life, but now he is considered a strongly influencing figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. Blake wanted to take his poetry beyond words and felt that he needed to illustrate the words more, so he later on wrote a book,"Songs of Innocence". Blakes preoccupation with good and evil, as well as his strong philosophical and religious beliefs remained throughout his life and he never stopped representing them in his poetry and engravings.
Summary
This poem's one stanza consisting of four lines, and the rhyme scheme is A, A, B, B. In the first line I assume that Blake is talking about a man who is all about himself and who is also is caught up in the world. In the second line it describes that being caught up in the world will destroy your life; if you are caught up in the world, you are taking the world for granted. In the third and fourth line it is talking about if you are thankful for what you have in the world, and not taking everything for granted, you will prosper and you will live in happiness. Overall, the poem is saying, don't take the world for granted, be thankful for what you have.
Eternity
He who binds himself a joyDoes the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sunrise
William Blake
November 28th, 1757- August 12,1827Blake was unrecognized during his life, but now he is considered a strongly influencing figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. Blake wanted to take his poetry beyond words and felt that he needed to illustrate the words more, so he later on wrote a book,"Songs of Innocence". Blakes preoccupation with good and evil, as well as his strong philosophical and religious beliefs remained throughout his life and he never stopped representing them in his poetry and engravings.
Summary
This poem's one stanza consisting of four lines, and the rhyme scheme is A, A, B, B. In the first line I assume that Blake is talking about a man who is all about himself and who is also is caught up in the world. In the second line it describes that being caught up in the world will destroy your life; if you are caught up in the world, you are taking the world for granted. In the third and fourth line it is talking about if you are thankful for what you have in the world, and not taking everything for granted, you will prosper and you will live in happiness. Overall, the poem is saying, don't take the world for granted, be thankful for what you have.Sources
http://www.poemhunter.com/william-blake/biography/